Jammu, Feb 03: The 16th Union Territory-level meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was on Tuesday chaired by the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, to comprehensively review enforcement, prosecution, treatment, and rehabilitation measures aimed at combating the drug menace, and to chart out a more stringent, coordinated, and result-oriented strategy across Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary unequivocally directed that the administration must adopt an extremely stringent approach towards drug traffickers and peddlers, ensuring that offenders do not derive any benefit from government systems or facilities.
Emphasising a multi-pronged strategy, the Chief Secretary outlined five critical pillars of action, starting with intensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns for demand reduction, highlighting legal consequences as well as the health and social impacts of drug abuse.
He stressed the need for counselling services through trained counsellors at the grassroots level, backed by strong enforcement measures including cancellation of licences and strict action under relevant laws.
He further underscored the importance of accessible and effective treatment services, ensuring availability of equipment, medicines, and trained manpower close to people’s doorsteps.
The Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive rehabilitation frame work from Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) to reintegration of recovered individuals into society through strong inter-departmental coordination. He also stressed leveraging community participation and technology as force multipliers in the fight against drugs.
Expressing concern over the low rate of conversion of FIRs into convictions in commercial quantity NDPS cases, the Chief Secretary noted large pendency at the prosecution stage, with the majority of cases awaiting witness examination.
Observations of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regarding investigation into forward and backward linkages were also directed to be strictly focused upon in Jammu and Kashmir.
The status of old NDPS cases particularly those exceeding five years were reviewed, with several offenders having been declared proclaimed offenders.
The Chief Secretary took serious note of instances of re-examination of NDPS samples, where two out of six samples tested positive upon re-testing, and directed formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to end this practice. He ordered scrutiny of original FSL examination reports and initiation of strict action if any foul play is detected.
The Chief Secretary emphasised the use of satellite imagery for detection of illicit cultivation, including bhang, and directed immediate destruction of such crops along with stringent action against growers.
An AI-based assistance tool for Investigating Officers and Prosecutors, demonstrated by IGP Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, was appreciated by the Chief Secretary.
The Chief Secretary also directed establishment of Command Centres for real-time CCTV monitoring of identified hotspots and vulnerable areas. Stressing further training and optimal deployment, he ordered establishment of Drug De-addiction IPD facilities at all district hospitals.
Strict action was ordered against persons involved in drug peddling near schools and colleges, including immediate cancellation of passports, driving licences, and RCs, and consideration under PIT-NDPS provisions.
The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, emphasised close monitoring of commonly used precursor chemicals, their legal usage, and quantities to prevent diversion for manufacturing of synthetic drugs.
On capacity building, Secretary Health, Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, informed the meeting that 2,450 medics and paramedics, 537 teachers, and 81 SHG members have been trained so far at IMHANS, Srinagar, to ensure availability of at least one trained counsellor in every PHC, school, and village.
IGP Crime, Sujit K. Singh, while presenting a detailed review of compliance on previous directions, informed that the department initiated an aggressive enforcement and legal action drive across the UT during 2025. A total of 1,863 FIRs were registered and 2,592 individuals arrested in drug-related cases.
Judicial outcomes also improved, with 229 convictions involving 270 persons. Under the PIT-NDPS Act, 240 preventive detention orders were executed to incapacitate habitual offenders.
Highlighting the financial choking of drug syndicates, the IGP stated that Jammu and Kashmir now ranks third nationally in property attachments under the “Proceeds of Narcotics” provisions, with assets worth ₹70.67 Cr already attached. In 2025 alone, 259 houses and 111 vehicles were attached, while properties worth another ₹50 crore are pending confirmation.
Regarding supply eradication, seizures during field operations included 296 kg of charas, 53.8 kg of heroin, and 397 kg of ganja. To curb pharmaceutical abuse, over 27,500 capsules of Pregabalin and Tapentadol valued at ₹12.76 lakh were seized. Additionally, 736 acres of illicit cannabis and poppy cultivation were destroyed across the UT.
Deputy Commissioners and SSPs also shared district-wise feedback on enforcement measures and challenges in safeguarding their jurisdictions against drug trafficking and addiction.
